American Indian Elders’ resilience: Sources of strength for building a healthy future for youth

Kahn, Carmella; Reinschmidt, Kerstin M.; Teufel-Shone, Nicolette I.; Oré, Christina E; Henson, Michele; Attakai, Agnes

doi:10.5820/aian.2303.2016.117

Cited by 37 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…These solidarities comprise social cohesion based on warmth, affection, attraction, and interaction between generations at the macrosocial and microsocial levels. By its contribution to intergenerational solidarity, Indigenous elders’ social participation can help meet individual and community health and social service needs, address issues, and develop wellness (Kahn et al 2016 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of Indigenous elders’ contributions to individual and community wellness: results from a scoping review on social participation and intergenerational solidarity

Viscogliosi

Asselin

Basile

et al. 2020

Can J Public Health

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Objective Wellness is a challenge for Indigenous peoples, partly because Western services do not adopt a holistic approach. By devaluing traditional knowledge, Indigenous values and beliefs, these services lower Indigenous power and affect cultural identities. Indigenous elders participate in intergenerational solidarity by transmitting knowledge, values, and culture in a holistic approach. Despite widespread acceptance of the importance of Indigenous elders' contributions to wellness, a rigorous synthesis of knowledge has never been done. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of how Indigenous elders' social participation contributes to individual and community wellness. Method A scoping review was conducted with Indigenous elders and stakeholders in Québec (Canada). Sixteen databases were searched with 57 keywords. Data from the documents retrieved were analyzed, organized, and synthesized based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Synthesis A total of 144 documents were examined, comprising 74 scientific papers and 70 sources from the gray literature. Indigenous elders contributed to wellness mainly through relationships and interactions with other community members and non-Indigenous people (72.2%); intergenerational oral and written communications (70.1%); community, social and civic life (45.8%); volunteering and jobs (35.4%); and family life (29.9%). Elders transmit traditional knowledge, strengthen social cohesion, and help to develop positive attitudes such as reciprocity. Their actions favour disease prevention and health promotion, as including traditional approaches increases the acceptability of health and social services. Conclusion This scoping review highlights the need for longitudinal studies with mixed-method designs involving Indigenous communities at all stages of the research to deepen understanding of the contributions of Indigenous elders to individual and community wellness.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of Indigenous elders’ contributions to individual and community wellness: results from a scoping review on social participation and intergenerational solidarity

Viscogliosi

Asselin

Basile

et al. 2020

Can J Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Such knowledge can guide the development of resilience-informed public health prevention interventions. For example, to explore AI resilience and resilience strategies, Kahn et al (in press) interviewed 15 AI elders to document narratives of resilience. Content analysis of the elders’ narratives identified themes that were used to guide 12 modules for an AI youth resilience program.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

American Indian and Alaska Native resilience along the life course and across generations: A literature review

Oré

Teufel-Shone

Chico-Jarillo

2016

AIANMHR

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Examining American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) resilience using the life course framework could inform public health strategies that support favorable health outcomes, despite adversity (e.g., discrimination, historical loss, comorbidity). A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published from 1970 to 2015 yielded eight articles on AI/AN life course and resilience. A content analysis identified three themes. AI/AN resilience is 1) an ongoing, dynamic process, 2) evident within linked lives and life transitions, and 3) accessed through cultural knowledge and practice. Resilience research could change the paradigm of AI/AN health research to guide asset-based approaches across the life course.

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“…Although this value of closeness unfortunately does not seem to translate into lower rates of divorce or remarriage in the American Indian population (Cohen, 2015; Lewis & Kreider, 2015), it is a unique aspect of the American Indian family system that may serve as a valuable component of American Indian child upbringing and subsequent outcomes. Indeed, programs that focus on building relationships within American Indian families increase resilience among American Indian urban youth (Kahn et al, 2016). Therefore, upholding the value of American Indian closeness may translate into achieving positive mental health benefits in children.…”

Section: American Indian Family Closeness and Family Systems Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because of American Indians’ extended view of closeness and the concomitant support that comes from their tribal community, immediate family (or stepfamily) closeness may not be as salient a protective factor against mental health challenges as it would be for other racial groups, which rely less on outside communities and more on familial relationships. Nevertheless, increased closeness within the immediate family seems to bring about considerable mental health benefits to American Indians (Kahn et al, 2016) as it does in the general population (Steinberg, 2001). Similarly, we would suspect that closeness within American Indian stepfamilies may serve as a protective factor against mental health issues, as it does with members of the general population (Buchanan, Maccoby, & Dornbusch, 2000).…”

Section: American Indian Family Closeness and Family Systems Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Stepfamily Closeness and Depression Among American Indian Emerging Adults: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Ward

Limb

Higbee

et al. 2018

Journal of Family Issues

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Stepfamilies are one of the fastest growing family structures among all racial groups in the United States. Stepfamily research among many racial groups, specifically American Indians, is virtually nonexistent. This is unfortunate, as American Indians are more likely to divorce and remarry compared with other populations. From a family systems perspective, this study examined whether retrospectively perceived closeness in three stepfamily relationships, namely child–residential biological parent, child–residential stepparent, and child–stepsibling, were negatively associated with depression scores in 226 American Indian emerging adults. A structural equation model showed that increased child–residential biological parent and child–stepsibling closeness predicted decreased depression scores, whereas child–residential stepparent closeness did not. We also found that depression scores significantly predicted retrospective perceptions of child–residential biological parent, child–residential stepparent, and child–stepsibling closeness. Findings encourage interventions that strengthen American Indian child–residential biological parent and child–stepsibling relationships, and underscore the need for further research that explores American Indian stepfamily relationships.

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American Indian Elders’ resilience: Sources of strength for building a healthy future for youth

Cited by 37 publications

References 16 publications

Importance of Indigenous elders’ contributions to individual and community wellness: results from a scoping review on social participation and intergenerational solidarity

Importance of Indigenous elders’ contributions to individual and community wellness: results from a scoping review on social participation and intergenerational solidarity

American Indian and Alaska Native resilience along the life course and across generations: A literature review

Stepfamily Closeness and Depression Among American Indian Emerging Adults: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

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